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Lakers show explosive offense

The Detroit Lakes boys' hockey team is starting to shine as the season winds down with a dominating 8-1 win against Kittson Central Friday night at the Kent Freeman Arena.

"We're starting to capitalize on our chances," said head coach Chris Denardo. "We see what we can do and it's giving us confidence."

The game was decided in the first period as the Lakers went into the intermission with a 4-0 lead.

"It's a matter of the kids coming out more fired up," commented Denardo of the explosive first period. "We gained a lot of confidence from the Little Falls game."

Although Detroit Lakes lost to Little Falls, they found that they could get chances against the elite teams.

"In that game we saw that against a team that's been to state the last four years we can get our chances," Denardo stated about the Little Falls game. "That game helped us get confidence for these games."

And confidence was strong for the boys as they had eight goals on 38 shots or 21-percent success rate.

"We're doing a lot of good things," said Denardo. "We have three lines that can go out there and play -- which will help come sections."

Involved in half of the goals Friday night was sophomore Nate Baker who had two goals and two assists.

"If we get him around the net he can bury it," Denardo said of Baker. "He has a very nice shooting touch."

Baker's line consisted of seniors Josh Saunders and Brandon Yozamp.

"Those two are good compliments to him," added Denardo in regards to Yozamp and Saunders. "They can either get Nate the puck of capitalize on his crisp passes."

The Lakers have been rotating goalies this season to create a "friendly competition."

"We don't have a set goalie," added Denardo. "In sections we're going to stick with the hot hand at the time."

The one Bearcat goal came five minutes into the second on a rebound of Craig Lindegard's shot and was capitalized on by senior Dylan Kent.